A Verbal Duel

The Wounded Dragon (WD) : There was never anyone better than me. Anywhere I went. It always felt like I was surrounded by immature fools.

Cheshire Cat (CC) : Look who's talking. I've never met anyone more childish than you. But then , I too, felt that I was the best amongst my lot.

WD : And being on top gets to be boring, does it not ? If there's no one to fight you start fighting yourself.... destroying yourself, and everything you were good at.

CC : Fighting yourself, yes. But that leads to being better.

WD : Ah, you call this being better? Sure, you've perfected your art and are probably the best one around for the job. But look what it has made you. Cynical and selfish, never acknowledging the lesser mortals.

CC : And what has it made you? An empty shell of what you used to be, the waste of all the talent you had, just because you didn't have competitors or admirers. I needed neither. And I'm not as cold as I seem , you know. There are things and beings I care deeply for.

WD : You've only unlearned how to show it or what to do with a pure emotion .

CC : Emotions are distracting.

WD : So you'd say. I'm not as incompetent as you think me to be, either. Just disgusted by the indifference the world has for original thought.

CC : And here we are, both brilliant, both lost.

WD : So we are, so we are.